CODE OF ETHICS AND COMPETENCY ... - EZ Home Solutions · high standards. The end result was a...

GUIDECONTRACTOR

STANDARDSLearn How to Choose the Right Contractor...

THE FIRST TIME.

CODE OF ETHICS AND COMPETENCY

Introduction

STABILITY

Proof of Establishment

Supplier Letter

Business Licenses & Insurance

REPUTATION

BBB Accreditation

Memberships

Customer References

Accolades and Awards

PROFESSIONALISM

Detailed Proposal and Change Orders

No Tricks, No Pressure Sales Agreement

Worker Conduct Agreement & Jobsite Cleanup Roster

WORKMANSHIP

Money Back Guarantee

Project Photos for Ideas & Inspiration

Frequently Asked Questions

In Conclusion

Contractor Standards Checklist

03

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06

07

07

08

09

10

11

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12

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Table of Contents

Questions? Call (877) 345-EZHS

www.ezhomesolutions.com

http://ezhomesolutions.com/

3Questions? Call 877-345-EZHS (3947) | www.ezhomesolutions.com

Congratulations! When done properly, a remodeling project can make your home

more enjoyable and prove to be a valuable investment. Unfortunately, we’ve all

heard horror stories about home remodeling projects gone bad. Problems with

longer-than-expected installation, final bills that come in higher than the quote,

and shoddy workmanship, sadly, are commonplace. We were shocked and

embarrassed to find out that, according to Better Business Bureau statistics, home

improvement contractors are in the top 1% most complained about industries—

right up there with auto repair and airlines.

We’ve always done a good job and treated our customers right—and we’ve been

able to build a nice business because of it. However, over the years I’ve noticed that

some consumers will choose less-than-reputable companies to do jobs for them...

usually because they are quoted less money. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all for good,

honest competition, but it pains me to see good folks risk their hard-earned money

with contractors who don’t have their best interests at heart. You deserve a great

value for your money—which includes an honest contractor who uses high quality

products and stands behind their work in both word and deed.

Industry Standards Weren’t Tough Enough

We wanted to find a way to educate consumers about how to choose a good,

honest home improvement contractor. The industry standards simply aren’t

tough enough—just about anybody with a hammer and a pickup truck can be a

contractor. That’s why we’ve pioneered a set of standards called the Code of Ethics

& Competency for Remodeling Contractors. The Code calls for contractors to

uphold a high set of standards that will allow you to judge BEFORE hand whether

or not a contractor is likely to do the job right. This guide specifies those standards.

Before you hire any company to work in or around your home, make sure you

consult this guide and INSIST that the company comply with EVERY SINGLE

STANDARD in this book. If you do, chances are excellent you’ll get exactly what you

want out of your project.

Sincerely,

Owner, EZ Home Solutions

So, You’re Thinking About A Remodeling

Project For Your Home?

“We were shocked and embarrassed when we found out that contractors were America’s #1 most complained about industry.”

—Robert O’Geay Owner, EZ Home Solutions

CONTRACTOR STANDARDS GUIDE | Compliments of EZ Home Solutions4

Why It’s Important: Believe it or not,

many contractors use a pickup truck for an

office and showroom. Make sure that any

contractor you’re dealing with is substantial

enough to have a real office with all the

normal business functions—accounting,

production, sales, etc. If a contractor does

not have an office, that should tell you

something. Don’t fall for the “we just use

our trucks as offices!” line.

STABILITY

You need to make sure that any contractor you do business with has proven themselves in the past, and will be there if you need them in the future. Don’t just ASK the contractor if they are stable; look for tangible proof of longevity and financial stability by asking for the items listed on the next few pages.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Proof of Establishment


WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Supplier LetterWhy It’s Important: This is written confirmation of the company’s dealings with a supplier of the product that install stating that they are in good

standing as vendor and pay their bills promptly. These letters are easy for your contractor to obtain from suppliers—if a contractor says they are

difficult to obtain, then there might be something that they’re trying to hide.


Business LicensesWhy It’s Important: Make sure they have been operating under the same name for a minimum of 5 years. Many contractors open and close their

doors multiple times to avoid past customer complaints. (Naturally, some businesses will be legitimately new—if so, get a 10 year work history of

the owner and ASK questions!)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:


Questions? Need More Information?

Call (877) 345-EZHS www.ezhomesolutions.com

BBB AccreditationWhy It’s Important: You need to go further

than just checking a contractor’s standing

with the BBB. Remember, many contractors

shut down and open under new names year

after year. So check to see how long they’ve

been a member, and check to be sure the

contractor is accredited by the BBB. This means

that if complaints arise, the contractor agrees

that the BBB’s judgment is binding and must

perform accordingly. Without this agreement,

you may have no recourse. EZ Home Solutions

is a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating

at the time of this printing.

REPUTATIONYou can tell a great deal about a contractor based on what others are saying about them—particularly their customers. The old advice of “ask for 3 references” is just too easy to fake. You’ll need to get a little tougher with your contractor to protect yourself. Insist that any contractor you’re considering can produce the things listed on the next few pages to PROVE that their reputation is rock solid.

Be It Known By All that

EZ Home Solutions, LLC

has earned the Better Business Bureau’s Accreditation.

Truth, Honesty, Trust, Transparency, Honor and Integrity

are the BBB’s Principles of Trust which define a

BBB Accredited Business.

This company has maintained the Better Business Bureau

Accreditation:

July 2006 to

June 2015

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www.thefirstbbb.org

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:


Customer ReferencesWhy It’s Important: All reputable contractors carry pre-printed lists of references... that includes

customers from 1 to 5 years ago, as well as customers from the previous six months. This list

should contain at least 100 references.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

“ Many roofing companies approached me to do the restoration to my property and I did not trust them. EZ Home Solutions was the only company I actually trusted. I liked that they started the work

immediately and were very efficient. The crew was very nice, and meticulous. They worked hard and were very dedicated to getting my job done right. They were fearless and even put on the siding when it was raining. They came back after the job was done and made sure everything was cleaned

up. I was very happy that I went with EZ Home Solutions.” JASON WALKER ST. LOUIS, MO

“… working with EZ Home Solutions was the best decision we made for repairing and remodeling our home! The owner and field team were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, and they always had our best interest in mind. They worked quickly and thoughtfully to create a construction plan

that was within the tight time frame we needed, and they worked directly with our insurance adjuster to manage the claim. The construction workers were efficient and respectful, and the field team checked in daily to observe the progress and assure everything was meeting their

high standards. The end result was a beautiful new home, thanks to EZ Home Solutions’ careful attention to detail throughout the entire process. We couldn’t be happier with EZ Home Solutions

and we give them our highest recommendation!” ALISON LANGLEY, EAGAN, MN

“I had a really good experience working with EZ Home Solutions. I found that they were efficient, friendly, honest and trustworthy. They followed through on all their promises and demonstrated

that they are truly experts in their field. Not only do they have excellent customer service, they were proactive with my concerns. They walked me through the whole storm restoration process and

made the whole experience hassle free. ” WILLIAM ASK MINNEAPOLIS, MN




Accolades and AwardsWhy It’s Important: If a contractor has been in business for any length of time—and doing a

good job—they will most likely have been written about in a magazine or newspaper, received

an award of some kind, or received special recognition from an association or trade organization.

Any company that can’t produce at least SOME of these kinds of accolades might not be worthy

of accolades!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

RANK COMPANY 2012 REMODELING

GROSS SALES

2012 REMODELING

JOBS

% R

OOFI

NG

% S

IDIN

G

% W

INDO

WS

% D

OORS

% D

ECKS

,

PORC

HES

% S

UNRO

OMS,

CONS

ERVA

TORI

ES

% O

UTDO

OR

LIVI

NG

% O

THER

% S

PENT

MAR

KETI

NG

% R

EPEA

T

BUSI

NESS

% R

EFER

RAL

BUSI

NESS

16 UNIVERSAL WINDOWS DIRECT INC.—Oakwood Village, OhioWilliam Barr/Michael Strmac, universalwindowsdirect.com $26,253,891 3,889 3 11 78 8 0 0 0 0 14 19 22

17 WINDOW NATION—Glen Burnie, Md.Harley Magden, windownation.com $26,188,159 4,718 0 10 80 10 0 0 0 0 15 0 2

18 COMFORT WINDOW & DOOR CO.—Syracuse, N.Y.Alfred Gentile, comfortwindows.com $25,358,436 5,058 1 11 60 10 2 3 0 1 0 40 15

19 AMERICAN VISION WINDOWS INC.—Simi Valley, Calif.William R. Herren, americanvisionwindows.com $24,500,000 3,275 0 0 85 5 0 0 0 10 0 25 30

20 PATIO ENCLOSURES BY GREAT DAY IMPROVEMENTS Macedonia, Ohio, Steve White, patioenclosures.com $23,200,000 1,300 0 0 27 0 5 58 0 0 13 20 20

21 K-DESIGNERS—Gold River, Calif.Larry D. Judson, k-designers.com $22,783,834 2,956 0 32 44 4 0 0 0 13 12 12 2

22 WOODBRIDGE HOME EXTERIORS—DallasMitchell Spector, woodbridgeclassic.com $21,882,439 2,127 0 30 70 0 0 0 0 0 17 2 10

23 SUNGATE ENERGY SOLUTIONS INC.—San DiegoBrad Smith, thesungate.com $20,709,827 1,385 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 95 16 5 0

24 WINDOW WORLD OF ST LOUIS—Bridgeton, Mo.James Lomax III, windowworldstl.com $20,321,508 7,667 0 5 90 3 0 0 0 2 0 8 8

25 STORM TIGHT WINDOWS INC.—Boynton Beach, Fla.Lee J. Brown, stormtightwindows.com $19,819,650 1,017 0 0 75 25 0 0 0 0 14 3 5

26 PARAMOUNT BUILDERS INC.—Virginia Beach, Va.Edward G. Augustine, paramountbuilders.com $19,690,788 2,317 12 34 44 10 0 0 0 0 20 14 5

27 SOLAR ENERGY WORLD—Whippany, N.J.George Dunning, solarEworld.com $18,990,000 491 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100 6 0 10

28 UNIQUE HOME SOLUTIONS—IndianapolisBob Dillon, uniquehomesolutions.org $17,725,000 1,995 15 20 35 0 0 0 0 10 21 18 10

29 CUSTOM REMODELERS INC.—Lino Lakes, Minn.Craig R. Carpenter, customremodelersinc.com $17,192,803 2,489 16 26 45 3 1 0 0 0 13 10 11

30 NATIONWIDE WINDOW & SIDING—Clifton, N.J.Baycan Azeri, nationwidewindow.com $15,836,604 2,228 5 50 35 5 5 0 0 0 18 5 20

31 AMERICA’S WINDOW LLC—Borden, Ind.Greg Kendziorski, americaswindowusa.com $15,063,000 2,420 0 8 54 3 0 12 0 3 24 15 4

32 NORTHWEST EXTERIORS INC.—Rancho Cordova, Calif.Thomas Orr, northwestexteriors.com $14,541,105 1,882 0 10 50 0 0 15 0 10 15 0 15

33 C&L WARD—Davison, Mich.Patrick Ward, windowexperts.com $14,219,992 1,955 30 17 45 5 1 0 0 2 8 21 15

34 GUTTER HELMET SYSTEMS —Millersville, Md.Del Thebaud, harryhelmet.com $13,982,624 4,310 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 90 25 0 0

35 THE SOUTHARD CORP. —Great Bend, Kan.R. Joe Southard, southardcorp.com $13,945,468 1,409 0 4 87 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

36 S & K ROOFING SIDING & WINDOWS INC.—Eldersburg, Md.Donald C. Katzenberger, skroofing.com $13,696,646 3,340 68 12 6 1 2 0 0 11 2 35 40

37 YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT CO. LLC—St. Cloud, Minn.Steven J.Little, yourhomeimprovementco.com $13,191,048 1,700 5 5 70 0 0 0 0 0 6 5 5

38 AMERICAN HOME DESIGN INC.—Goodlettsville, Tenn.Don C. Bruce, americanhomedesign.com $12,969,551 1,426 0 4 26 2 0 23 0 4 15 11 7

39 WEATHER TITE WINDOWS—Tampa, Fla.Michael Hollander, weathertitewindows.com $12,840,800 3,800 0 0 80 15 0 5 0 0 10 5 15

40 HARDY WINDOW CO. INC.—Anaheim, Calif.Kim Hardy, hardywindows.com $12,506,870 1,680 0 0 80 20 0 0 0 0 10 20 0

41 HOMEVIEW CONTRACTORS INC.—Pikesville, Md.Michael T. Zabec, homeviewinc.com $12,406,501 1,958 0 10 27 13 4 10 0 29 13 20 6

42 PACIFIC COAST HOME SOLUTIONS—Anaheim, Calif.Eric Martinson, pchsca.com $11,816,245 1,131 0 5 60 0 0 0 0 25 12 5 5

43 MODERN REMODELING INC.—Manassas, Va.Jonathan Ballard, modernremodelinginc.com $11,668,396 487 20 20 10 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 30

44 AMS, INC.—Pompano Beach, Fla.John Murray, amsoffla.com $11,400,000 1,930 75 5 5 5 5 5 0 0 10 30 40

45 UNITED STATES SEAMLESS-FARGO, DBA WESTERN PRODUCTS Fargo, N.D., Michael Bullinger, westernproducts.com $11,185,118 2,105 7 46 27 2 0 0 0 11 4 19 21

46 EZ HOME SOLUTIONS—Roseville, Minn.Robert O’Geay, ezhs.com $10,859,416 942 55 35 10 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0

2 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com

2013


RANK COMPANY

2012 REMODELING GROSS SALES

2012 REMODELING JOBS

2013 REMODELING GROSS SALES

FORECAST

2012 GROSS SALES

FOCUS

NUM

BER

OF

EMPL

OYEE

S

YEAR

S IN

THE

BU

SINE

SS

ASSO

CIAT

ION

MEM

BER

CERT

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COM

MUN

ITY

SERV

ICE

71 CROOM CONSTRUCTION CO. — Vero Beach, Fla. David S. Croom croomconstruction.com

$12,462,000 36 $12,000,000 $16,238,000

Full-service Remodeler 44 35 ✪

72 HOMEVIEW CONTRACTORS INC. — Pikesville, Md.Michael T. Zabec homeviewinc.com

$12,406,501 1,958 $14,000,000 $12,406,501

Exterior Contractor 62 46 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

73 A&I CORP. DBA A&I FIRE AND WATER RESTORATION — Myrtle Beach, S.C. Daniel H. Isaac Jr. ai-restoration.com

$12,363,095 759 $13,500,000 $12,363,095

Insurance Restoration 45 39 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

74 PACIFIC COAST HOME SOLUTIONS — Anaheim, Calif. Eric Martinson pchsca.com

$11,816,245 1,131 $15,500,000 $11,816,245

Exterior Contractor 127 14 ✪

75 MODERN REMODELING INC. — Manassas, Va.Jonathan Ballard modernremodelinginc.com

$11,668,396 487 $9,000,000 $11,668,396

Full-service Remodeler 15 17 ✪ ✪ ✪

76 AMS INC. — Pompano Beach, Fla. John Murray amsoffla.com

$11,400,000 1,930 $11,500,000 $11,100,000

Full-service Remodeler 60 36 ✪ ✪

77 UNITED STATES SEAMLESS-FARGO, DBA WESTERN PRODUCTS, INC. — Fargo, N.D. Michael Bullinger westernproducts.com

$11,185,118 2,105 $12,160,000 $11,365,166


78 NEWBATH — New OrleansLawrence Closs newbathnow.com

$11,090,255 1,501 $12,000,000 $11,090,255

Kitchen and Bath Specialist 75 8 ✪ ✪ ✪

79 EZ HOME SOLUTIONS — Roseville, Minn.Robert O’Geay ezhs.com

$10,859,416 942 $15,000,000 $11,185,257

Exterior Contractor 7 9 ✪ ✪ ✪

80 ELITE REMODELING GROUP — Rolling Meadows, Ill. Michael Macek elitewindowsandsiding.com

$10,673,576 1,043 $11,000,000 $10,673,576

Exterior Contractor 167 16 ✪ ✪

81 APPLEBY SYSTEMS INC. — York, Pa. John Kailian applebysystems.com

$10,416,333 1,037 $12,000,000 $10,416,333


82 BROTHERS HOME IMPROVEMENT INC. — Roseville, Calif.Gene V. Cavanna brothershomeimp.com

$10,283,062 2,096 $13,162,319 $11,405,475

Other 69 19 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

83 ACCURATE CONSTRUCTION — Torrance, Calif.Curt Negrinelli/Dave Goeppner accurateconstruction.com

$10,247,873 900 $12,000,000 $10,247,873

Insurance Restoration 43 19 ✪ ✪

84 AMERICAN EAGLE BUILDERS SUPPLY INC. — Arlington, Texas Roy Williams americaneaglebuilders.com

$10,235,311 841 $11,278,421 $10,235,311


85 MOSBY BUILDING ARTS — St. Louis Scott Mosby callmosby.com

$10,047,722 429 $12,400,000 $10,332,034

Full-service Remodeler 73 66 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

86 EXOVATIONS — Cumming, Ga. Roone Unger exovations.com

$9,994,985 1,143 $11,500,000 $9,994,985


87 WEST SHORE WINDOW & DOOR INC. — Mechanicsburg, Pa. B.J. Werzyn westshorewindow.com

$9,948,497 1,355 $14,000,000 $9,948,497


88 PRINCE WILLIAM HOME IMPROVEMENT — Woodbridge, Va.Scott Holtzhauer pwhomeimprovement.com

$9,943,132 768 $10,750,000 $9,943,132


89 JACKSON & LEROY REMODELING — Salt Lake City Brandon LeRoy jacksonandleroy.com

$9,791,892 18 $8,100,000 $9,791,892


90 AMBASSADOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC. — Mechanicsburg, Pa.Joseph L. Zisman rbacentralpa.com

$9,601,558 1,086 $10,358,242 $9,601,558


91 MAD CITY ROOFING SIDING WINDOWS — Madison, Wis.Cory Sturman madcitywindows.com

$9,598,278 1,250 $12,000,000 $15,434,632

Full-service Remodeler 35 15 ✪ ✪ ✪

92 RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN OF LAS VEGAS & PHOENIX — Las Vegas Bill Godbout rbavegas.com

$9,509,702 1,014 $10,250,000 $9,509,702

Insurance Restoration 41 32 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

93 EVERLAST HOME ENERGY SOLUTIONS — Anaheim, Calif. Mike Lumary/Greg Friend everlastgogreen.com

$9,268,517 806 $10,500,000 $9,268,517


94 ASHCO EXTERIORS INC. — Champlin, Minn.Jason Jeppesen ashcoexteriors.com

$9,202,288 727 $13,000,000 $9,202,288


95 COMMUNITY BUILDERS INC. — Tulsa, Okla. Greg Wolter communitybuildersinc.com

$9,067,947 952 $10,000,000 $9,067,947


96 ALLEN ASSOCIATES — Santa Barbara, Calif. Bryan Henson dennisallenassociates.com

$8,956,797 132 $11,000,000 $17,757,092


97 GLOBAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC. — Feasterville, Pa. Paul Kazlov globalhomeinc.com

$8,909,523 475 $12,000,000 $8,909,523


98 DFW IMPROVED — Frisco, Texas Gary Simms dfwimproved.com

$8,800,000 586 $12,000,000 $9,300,000


99 BENNETT CONTRACTING INC. — Albany, N.Y. Greg Jackson bennettcontracting.com

$8,708,536 1,100 $9,000,000 $8,708,536


100 JACKSON DESIGN & REMODELING — San DiegoTodd Jackson jacksondesignandremodeling.com

$8,707,024 54 $9,200,000 $8,707,024

Design/Build Remodeler 37 24 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

101 CLEARVIEW HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC. — Placentia, Calif.Michael Lumary/Joseph Kovalcin cvgreenhome.com

$8,687,917 647

$8,687,917 Exterior Contractor 57 8 ✪

102 SUN DESIGN REMODELING SPECIALISTS INC. — Burke, Va.Craig Durosko sundesigninc.com

$8,678,866 57 $10,000,000 $8,678,866

Design/Build Remodeler 51 25 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

103 TIM WHITE HOME IMPROVEMENT — Seaford, N.Y.Timothy White timwhiteremodeling.com

$8,665,000 226 $8,000,000 $8,665,000


104 ABC SEAMLESS OF FARGO — Fargo, Minn. Gerald W. Beyers abcseamless.com

$8,562,000 1,524 $8,819,000 $9,037,000


105 SHOWCASE RESTORATION — Fayetteville, N.C. G. Wayne Etowski showcaserestoration.com

$8,560,021 733 $6,720,000 $8,560,021

Insurance Restoration 35 33 ✪ ✪ ✪

106 HANDYMAN TO THE RESCUE — Turlock, Calif. Steven Littrell

$8,400,000 425 $12,500,000 $8,400,000


30 August 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com

The Original Remodeler Ranking


No Tricks, No Pressure Sales AgreementWhy It’s Important: Many unethical

contractors will resort to high-pressure sales

tactics to get you to buy before you’ve had

an opportunity to do proper due diligence

on them. If you know nothing about the

contractor prior to the sales call (from

literature, references, online information), and

they give you a low-ball price “but only if you

buy right this minute,” you should be wary.

Any time you feel uncomfortable or unduly

pressured in a sales environment, you should

ask the contractor to “back off.” Reputable

companies will have a no-tricks, no-pressure

sales pledge signed by the owner, sales

manager, and each sales associate.

All EZ Home Solutions’s Sales Associates sign

a “Zero Sales Pressure Agreement” that is

also signed by our sales manager to pledge

that they will handle sales situations in a

respectful way. Ask your Sales Associate to

see a copy of his signed agreement when he

comes into your home.

As a sales associate for EZ Home Solutions, you must agree to abide by the principles and precepts of our Code of Ethics and competency. Any violation of these principles will be grounds for written warning; multiple violations will be grounds for termination.

I ________________________________ agree to abide by these guidelines when working with prospective customers/current customers for EZ Home Solutions.

1. I will not smoke inside the customer’s home.

2. I will not use foul language on the jobsite.

3. I will respect the customer’s time by being punctual.

4. In the event I cannot be on time, I will call to alert the customer and reschedule if necessary.

5. I will keep my clothing neat and clean.

6. I will respect the customer’s telephones, bathrooms, parking spaces, etc.

7. I will earnestly strive to fi nd the best solution for each customer’s needs.

8. I will not utilize high-pressure techniques to force customers to comply with my requests.

9. I will not sell products or services to customers when they are fi nancially not able to manage the investment.

10. I will give all of my customers a fair price and a fair opportunity to consider their options.

11. I will educate my customers on all sides of the purchase decision being made.

12. I will give my customers the opportunity to express any concerns they have and work to resolve them.

13. In the event that the customer is not ready to move forward, I will respect their decision.

SALESMAN’S SIGNATURE

SALES MANAGER’S SIGNATURE

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DATE

DATE

DATE

SALES ASSOCIATE “CUSTOMER RESPECT, NO TRICKS, NO PRESSURE” AGREEMENT

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

PROFESSIONALISMA good contractor doesn’t just do good work. They also understand that when dealing with customers, it’s oftentimes the little things that make a big difference. You should find a contractor that shows you respect by the way they treat you, the way they look, the way they treat your property, and how they pay attention to details. Check any contractor you’re considering against these standards of professionalism found on the next few pages.


Jobsite Cleanup RosterWhy It’s Important: Your home and yard should be cleared of large

debris, and dangerous materials daily by the crew. After the job is

completed, a total home clean-up should take place, including nail/

screw detection (with a specialized magnet) and removal of any

hazardous materials in your house or yard. Make sure your contractor

has a pre-determined daily jobsite cleanup routine, and a more

thorough cleanup routine upon completion of the job. All EZ Home

Solutions Sales Associates follow this multi-step cleanup roster at the

end of EVERY SINGLE DAY. Show this roster to other contractors. See if

they don’t balk.

Worker Conduct AgreementWhy It’s Important: This compliance agreement, signed by the

workers, is a 17-point contract prohibiting the use of alcohol, drugs, foul

language, misconduct, or other bad behavior on a job site. It also gives

appearance standards. Keep in mind that not everything is perfect, but

this agreement will greatly reduce the likelihood of problems. All EZ

Home Solutions Sales Associates sign a “Worker Conduct Agreement”

that is also signed by our sales manager to pledge that they will

conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner. Ask your

Sales Associate to see a copy of his signed agreement when he comes

into your home.



FOR ALL WORKERS

1. I will not smoke inside the customer’s home.

2. I will not use foul language on the jobsite.

3. I will not consume alcohol or drugs on the jobsite.

4. I will play any radios or music on the jobsite quietly.

5. I will keep my clothing neat and clean.

6. I will wear my identifi cation and certifi cation badge when on the jobsite.

7. I will respect the customer’s telephones, bathrooms, parking spaces, etc.

8. I will strive to keep dirt and messes to a minimum.

9. I will put trash in the proper container and leave the jobsite clean at the end of each work day.

10. I will keep any materials or tools that are left on the jobsite in an orderly fashion at the end of each day.

11. I agree to keep a current license appropriate for my trade(s).

FOR SUB-CONTRACTORS

12. I agree to carry workers’ compensation, accident insurance, or have a waiver form signed before work begins. I understand that my insurance must remain in eff ect for the duration for the job.

13. I agree to carry general liability insurance; or make special arrangements with the contractor before any work begins.

14. I agree to be responsible for my own taxes.

15. I agree to comply with any OSHA safety regulations for my trade.

16. I will communicate any changes to the agreed work schedule to the job supervisor before the original scheduled time.

17. I agree to warranty all work and materials supplied by me for one year, and perform any callbacks or warranty work within two weeks of the request.

WORKER SIGNATURE

SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE

DATE

DATE

WORKER CONDUCT COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT



DAILY CLEANUP

1. Entire jobsite is to be patrolled and cleaned for trash, including:

• Soda cans, drink bottles, cups, etc.

• Food items, bags, containers, etc.

• Miscellaneous trash

2. Small hand tools will be removed from the jobsite daily.

3. Any larger tools that will be left on the jobsite will be unplugged and stored in a tidy manner.

4. Any materials that will be left on the jobsite will be neatly organized and stored.

5. Any hazardous materials will be either removed completely or tightly secured.

6. Scrap materials (including metal, glass, sawdust, boards, etc.) will be disposed of.

7. Work area will be patrolled to remove any nails, screws, and other sharp objects.

8. Customer’s driveway and street will be patrolled to remove nails and/or screws that could cause tire damage.

9. Work area will be left with adequate ventilation in the case of painting or other materials that cause fumes and/or odors.

10. Any work areas that leave your home exposed overnight will be covered with plastic tarps and securely taped.

11. Work area will be swept with a push broom daily (where applicable).

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE JOB

12. Entire work area and yard will be patrolled for trash, debris, materials, etc.

13. Magnetic nail locator will be used to fi nd nails, screws, and other debris in customer’s lawn.

14. Customer lawn will be restored to pre-job condition if damage has occurred as a result of job.

15. Customer home/yard will be inspected for any incidental damage; repairs will be made if necessary.

16. Cleanup not complete until customer signs off on this document.

CREW FOREMAN’S SIGNATURE

SALES MANAGER’S SIGNATURE

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DATE

DATE

DATE

11 POINT JOBSITE CLEANUP ROSTER

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:




Money Back GuaranteeWhy It’s Important: Less than 1% of

contractors nationwide offer the ultimate

level of protection against potential problems

a homeowner might experience with a

contractor—the money back guarantee.

Think of it as the equivalent of the “lemon

law” for home improvement. If something

goes wrong with your home improvement

project that cannot be fixed through

reasonable measures, the contractor should

agree to refund your money and he should

agree to restore your home to its original

condition at no additional cost. This isn’t a

guarantee for the unconfident or incapable

contractor! To protect yourself at the highest

level, insist on this important guarantee.

WORKMANSHIPUltimately, any contractor has to be competent to do the job right the first time. Competence comes as a result of training, experience, and good old-fashioned hard work. As you evaluate a contractor, look for signs that they can do the job right the first time.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:


Project Photos for Ideas & InspirationWhy It’s Important: A contractor who serves his customers well should be proud to present

pictures of the work they’ve done. Ask to see a sample of jobs they’ve done—for inspiration for

your own project and to gauge the quality of the work they’ve done in the past. If no photos can

be produced, that should be a major warning sign.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:






Q: Are you saying that you are the only company in the area that can uphold these standards?

A: Most companies cannot uphold them, but there are several good,

honest contractors to be found. Just be sure to take the time and use

this guide to make sure before you hire anyone.

Q: Can a contractor just “fake” these standards?

A: Not likely. Most shady contractors that don’t put any effort into

making their businesses good, also won’t put effort into faking these

standards. It’s a lot easier for them to just move on to their next

unsuspecting victim.

Q: What if a contractor SAYS they can do all these things, but can’t show the proof?

A: Don’t settle for lip service. Demand to see the documentation for

every single standard on the checklist at the end of this guide.

Q: Are there any other things I should look for or watch out for that aren’t listed in the pages of this guide?

A: Look for some of these telltale signs of contractors who shouldn’t

be trusted:

• Main phone numbers that ring to cell phones

• Main phone numbers that are never answered by receptionists

• Trucks without signage on them

• No business cards or cheap business cards

• No company logo on work clothes/uniform

• Few references available

• Unresolved BBB complaints or no report at all

• Prices that are unusually low compared to other bids

• No website or very poor website

• Ability to start on your job immediately—no backlog

• Unwillingness to give any information

An Ounce Of Prevention...

It’s been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When the stakes are high—your home and your wallet—that saying

is even more true. We hope that by reading this guide you feel more

prepared to evaluate home improvement contractors and make the

best decision for your family.

Frequently Asked Questions


When you’re hiring someone to do any type of

work in your home, remember it’s your money and

your home. Be sure you get everything in writing,

ask all the questions on your mind and clearly

understand the answers you receive.

Besides what we’ve mentioned here, there are

several other ways to gather information on a

company before giving anyone a dime. Check with

consumer-to-consumer reporting groups like the

Better Business Bureau, at

www.betterbusinessbureau.com, or Angie’s List at

www.angieslist.com.

If all this makes sense, and you are curious about

our approach to remodeling, please give us a call. We’ll be happy to answer all of your questions for free.

As part of our commitment to our previous and potential new customers, at your request, we will set up a time to come

to your home to answer your questions and concerns. At this time we can also determine if we can meet your remodeling

needs. We provide this as a FREE, NO OBLIGATION service for you and your family.

Hopefully we can show you, as we have thousands of others, how to make your home absolutely gorgeous— something to

be really proud of!

Remember that when EZ Home Solutions visits your home, we are not going to use high-pressure sales tactics. It is simply a

chance for you to meet us and see if our services can benefit you. If, after our meeting, you believe there is no benefit to be

derived from working with us, we simply leave and that is that. If, however, you do find that you would like our help, we will

discuss how we proceed from there.

I can’t think of a better way to work. Can you?

If you think our approach is fair and honest, please consider EZ Home Solutions for your construction needs.

Best of luck with your remodeling plans!

Sincerely,

Owner, EZ Home Solutions

In Conclusion




For your convenience, we’ve enclosed a checklist of all the items you’ll want to look for before hiring any contractor.

Contractor Standards Checklist

What To Look For EZ Home Solutions Contractor A Contractor B

Proof of Establishment P

Bank Letter & Supplier Letter P

Business License P

Insurance P

BBB Accreditation P

Memberships P

Customer References P

Accolades and Awards P

Detailed Proposal and Change Orders P

No Tricks, No Pressure Sales Agreement P

Jobsite Cleanup Roster P

Worker Conduct Agreement P

Project Photos for Ideas & Inspiration P

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